Radiator pressure cap



Aug. 25, 1953 w, KONCHAN 2,649,986

RADIATOR PRESSURE C AP Filed Nov; 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 '3 @222 $012 Z/[Zozz czzazz Au 25, 1953 A. w. KONCHAN 2,649,986

RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP Filed Nov. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JHVEHLUF efizzaozz ZM/Zozzc/zan i atenteci Aug. 25 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP Anton W. Konchan, Berwyn, 111.

Application November 15, 1949, Serial No. 127,464

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a pressure closure cap and more particularlyto a cap for a closure containing a body of volatile fluid, such as a radiator cap, the cap being provided with means for maintaining pressure within the container within relatively narrow upper and lower limits.

As is Well known, in circulatory heat exchange systems, such as the radiator and associated coolant system of an internal combustion engine, excessive pressures may be developed upon the heating of a volatile coolant, such as'water, to an elevated temperature. Also, due to a decrease in coolant level within the system, vacuums may develop within the system which will seriously hinder the circulation of coolant therethrough.

The present invention provides an improved closure member of simple, economical, efficient construction which vents both excessive pressures and vacuums within the system to the circumambient atmosphere in order to maintain approximately atmospheric pressure conditions within the system. Also, the Pressures at which the closure means of the present invention are actuated to vent the system to atmosphere may be predetermined during assembly of the closure by varying the interfitting engagement of the components of the closure means.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved closure member for a container having a body of volatile fluid disposed therein, the closure member being provided with valve means for venting both maximum and minimum pressures developed within the container to maintain the pressure within the container within desired limits.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a closure cap for a container having a body of volatile'fluid contained therein, the cap being provided with a pair of oppositely acting vent valves making possible the release of both excessive pressures and undesired vacuums within the container. 7

A further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved closure cap provided with pressure relief means operable at variable predetermined pressures.

According to the features of the present invention, there is provided a closure cap for a container, the cap being adapted to be connected 5 to a container, preferably to overlie the' filling aperture thereof.

The internal structure'of the cap includes a pressure valve resiliently urged to seated position to close the'container aperture, the valve 2 being capable of being biased to an open position by excessive pressures developed Within the container. The means for resiliently urging the pressure valve to seated position are capable of 5 adjustment through a relatively wide range so that the pressures effective to bias the valve to open position may be likewise varied. A second, oppositely acting valve is provided to vent the container to atmospheric pressures when vacuums are developed therein.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View, with parts shown in elevation, of a closure member of the present invention disposed in an operative position, as on the neck of an internal combustion engine radiator;

Figure 2 is an exploded, sectional View, with parts shown in elevation, of the closure member of Figure 1; V

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, of a portion of the closure member of Figure 1 illustrating the assembly of the closure member;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane VV of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Figure 1, of a modified form of a closure member of the present invention; and

Figure '7 is an exploded vertical sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, of the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 6.

As shown on the drawings:

' In Figure 1, reference numeral refers generally to a container, such as a radiator for internal combustion engines having a filling aperture ll surrounded by an upwardly extending, generally cylindrical filler neck [2 secured to the container It for registry with the aperture H. The filler neck 12 is provided with a depending, concentric outer camming surface I3 for receiving a radiator cap IA of the present invention, as is Well known in the art.

The closure member M of the present inven- 0 tion comprises a generally cylindrical cap provided with a depending, annular marginal flange I6 having opposing inwardly deformable securing tabs H for contacting the camming surface [3.

The generally cylindrical body housing I8 is 3 adapted to be mounted to depend from the cap [5, the housing l8 having a lower inwardly directed peripheral rim l9 and a radially outwardly extending peripheral rim 2% terminating in 2. depending annular flange 2!. A spring diaphragm 22 having a central downwardly dished portion 23 and radially outwardly extending deflectable ,arms 24 is adapted to be interposed between the cap i and the body housing i8, alternate deflectable arms 24 contacting the cap and the body housing, respectively. The body housing is secured Within the cap E5 in nested, concentric, radially spaced relation by the .radially inward deformation of the tabs ll of the cap to underlie the annular flange 2i of the spring housing.

A pressure valve 26, in the form of ,a cupped member having an upper, outer, radially directed peripheral rim 2?; an upper cup portion 223; an

intermediate, radially directed seating flange 29;

'a lower cylindrical cupped portion 36; .a lower radially extending portion 31; and a central upstanding embossment 32, is provided to be telescoped within the body housing it. The upper peripheral rim 2'! of the valve 26 is adapted to be seated on the inwardly directed rim it of the spring housing it with the remainder of the cupped valve 26 depending from the spring housing. The central lower embossrnent 32 of the valve 26 is provided with a central aperture 33 and a'surrounding upwardly dished frustoconical valve'sealingiace 34 receiving a correspondingly shaped valve head 35 of a vacuum valve 36 urged against the seat 34 by means of a spring 31 acting against the lower radial portion 31 of the valve 2 6.

A spring'cap 3-9 is also provided to be telescoped within the spring housing 18 in spaced relation to the valve 26, the spring cap having a dependingrnarginal annular flange it concen trio with and surrounding a downwardly dished center portion 4! adapted to receive the central dished portion 2-3-of the spring diaphragm 22.

A pressure valve compression spring 42 is adapted to be confinedbetween the spring cap 3%, which is press fitted-within the spring housing at, and 'the pressure valve -26, the valve spring 12 surrounding the dished portion H of the spring cap and being seated upon the inner radially extending portion 3i of the pressure valve 26. 5

annular fibrous or rubber gasket -53 is adapted to abut the innersurface of the radially extending portion of the spring housing 38 and a second, smaller'pressure valve gasket 43a is provided to abut the intermediate radially extending portion iii-of the pressure valve 26.

The operation of the closure member id will be appreciated from the foregoing disclosure and the illustration of Figure l in which it will be seen that the inwardly directed tabs I! of the 'cap l5 are adapted to engage the camming surface 13 of the neck l2 to secure the closure member thereto-upon relative rotation of the closure member. The pressure valve 26 urges the gasket l3a into sealingrelation with the neck l2 to overlie the filling aperture H of the container 18. The gasket 43a is urged into eiiective sealing relation by means of the compression spring s2 and the gasket 13 is likewise resiliently urged into sealing relation with the neck by means of the spring diaphragm 22 acting against the body housing 18.

It will be seen that upon the development of excessive pressure within the container iii, as upon the volatilization of coolant upon overheating within a radiator, these pressures will urge the valve from sealing contact with the gasket Ma and the aperture ll against the action of the compression spring 42 to admit fluid or vapor into the spring housing I8. Egress for fluid or vapor from the interior of the spring housing [8 is provided by means of a radial aperture 44 formed in one cylindrical side wall of the spring housing and communicating with an apertured vent nipple 35 formed in the neck l2 and communicating with a vent conduit 46. Actually the concentric body housing l8 and the neck i2 cooperate to :define an annular chamber 47 lying therebetween and communicating with the interior ofthe housing is and the vent aperture 45, obviating the necessity of radially aligning the apertures 14 and '45 as shown in Figure 1. It will be seen that the valve 26 is of appreciable size and permits also the overflow of coolant liquid if necessary, as upon boiling and actual eruption [of :liquid from the radiator.

Upon .thegeneration of a partial vacuum Within the container ill, the vacuum valve 36 opens against its compression spring '3'? to vent atmospheric :pressures to the interior of the container it through the vent conduit 46, the nipple .45, and the spring housing aperture 44.

The .difierential pressure necessary to actuate the pressure valve 25 may be varied during assembly of the closure member is as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, in which it'will beseen that the position of the spring cap ii within the spring housing 18 maybe varied to thereby Vary the relative compression of the spring 42, thus causing the exertion of more or less ,compression force upon the pressure valve 26. Inasmuch as the spring cap is press fitted within the spring housing, it will be appreciated that the spring .cap may be secured and press fitted at any desired telescopic position within the spring housing.

In the embodiment of the present invention .as illustrated inFigures 6 and '7, reference nusure valve 54 is seated upon a radially inwardly extending lower flange '52 of the spring housing 53 as hereinbefore described, the valve having an outturned upper flange 54a seated on flange '52 and a central dependent portion 55 extending into the filling aperture I l.

The compression spring 55 urges the valve-54 and the gasket -63 to seated position by acting against a spring cap 51. The pressure valve 54 carries a vacuum :valvc 513 urged to seated position against a central valve seat 59 by means of the spring 60.

The construction thus far defined for the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 is substantially the same as that hereinbefore described. However, it'will be seen that the venting aperture for the closure is provided by means of a radial aperture 6! formed in the valve body 54 and communicatin with the annular chamber surrounding the valve body and also with the vent nipple 62 formed in the neck! 2,

The operation of the embodiment of Figures 6 and '7 is substantially-as hereinbefore described.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an improved form of closure for a receptacle or container, such as an internal combustion engine radiator containing a body of volatile coolant, such as water or water containing alcohol or other freezing point depressants. The closure provides means for venting both excessive pressures and vacuums developed within the receptacle to the atmosphere to maintain the pressure within the receptacle within rather narrowly defined limits. The structure is simple and economical in manufacture and assembly, and the venting pressures may be varied through a wide range during assembly of the closure to accommodate various types of receptacles at varying desired pressures within the receptacle.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cap for an internal combustion engine radiator having an open-topped elongated filling neck provided with a first aperture communieating with the interior of said radiator and a second aperture communicating with the atmosphere, comprising a housing adapted to be secured to said neck to close the same, a valve carried by said housing for telescoping movement therein, said valve having a seat portion extending beyond said housing for sealing engagement with the edge portion about said first aperture, a spring cap press-fitted within said housing in an adjusted spaced relation to said valve, a compression spring confined between said valve and said spring cap to urge said seat portion into sealing engagement, and means venting the interior of said housing to the atmosphere through said second aperture, whereby the adjusted position of said spring cap relative to said valve determines the degree of compression of said spring which in turn determines the pressure which must be generated in the interior of said radiator to vent said radiator -to the atmosphere through said valve and said last mentioned means.

2. A closure for a receptacle having a filling aperture comprising a body housing, means securing said housing to said receptacle, a valve carried by said body housing and cooperating with the edge portion about said aperture to also close the same, resilient means contacting said valve and urging said valve into seated position against those portions of said receptacle surrounding said aperture, and a spring cap press fitted in adjusted position in said body housing and acting against said resilient means to seat the valve, whereby said valve is opened against said spring by excessive pressures within said receptacle, to vent said pressures into the interior of said housing, with the pressures necessary to actuate said valve being determined by the relative adjusted position of said spring cap in said body housing,

3. In a closure member adapted to be secured to a receptacle to close the filling orifice thereof, the improvements of a body housing sealingly engaging said receptacle to close said orifice, a pressure valve extending into said orifice, a spring cap in said body housing in spaced relation to said valve, and a compression spring confined between said spring cap and said valve to urge said valve into seated position within said orifice, said valve being unseated by differential pressure conditions between the interior of said receptacle and said body housing against the action of said spring and said spring cap being shifted relative to said body housing to vary the compression of said spring.

4. In a closure member for sealingly engaging the filling neck of a receptacle for volatile fluid, a bypass valve for venting the interior of said receptacle comprising a body housing extending into said neck, a valve carried by said housing and extending into sealing relation with said receptacle, a spring cap press-fitted into said body housing in adjusted spaced relation to said valve, and a compression spring confined between said spring cap and said valve, said valve being urged from sealing relation with said receptacle against said spring upon the development of excessive pressures Within said receptacle and the spacing of said spring cap from said valve determining the load imposed on the valve by said spring and thereby the magnitude of the pressure necessary to open said valve.

5. In a closure cap for attachment to the filling neck of an internal combustion engine radiator, means for venting excessive pressures developed in said radiator through a vent provided in said neck, comprising a generally cylindrical body housing sealingly engaging said neck, a pressure valve carried by said housing for telescoping movement relative thereto into and out of sealing engagement with said radiator, a spring cap press-fitted into said housing in adjusted spaced relation to said valve, a spring acting between said cap and said valve urging said valve into engagement with said radiator, said valve being actuated against said spring by excessive pressures developed within said radiator to vent the same through said neck vent, and a spring urged vacuum valve carried by said pressure valve for venting the interior of said radiator to atmospheric pressure through said neck ven-t upon the development of subatmospheric pressures in said radiator. V

6'. In a sheet metal closure cap for a radiator neck having an aperture venting the interior of the neck to atmosphere and an interior aperture communicating with said radiator, an overflow and vent valve comprising a tubular body housing carried by said cap and extending into said neck into spaced relation to said radiator aperture, a valve carried by said body housing and extending therefrom into said radiator aperture in sealing engagement about the edge portion thereof, a spring cap telescopically carried by said body housing and press fitted therein in adjusted spaced relation to said valve, and a spring confined between said spring cap and said valve to normally urge said valve into sealing engagement, excessive pressures developed within said radiator acting against said spring tourge said valve from seated relation to vent said radiator to atmosphere through said neck aperture, and the pressure necessary to move said valve from seated relation being determined by the compression applied to said spring by the relative position of said spring cap and said valve.

ANTON W. KONCHAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,761,396 Karmazin June 3, 1930 2,164,450 Eshbaugh 'et al July 4, 1939 2,171,168 Swank Aug. 29, 1939 2,191,614 Frantz Feb. 2'7, 1940 2,203,801 Swank June 11, 1940 

